The Walking Dead: 15 Most Shocking Moments
2. "I Found Them" (Season 9)
A main character leaving their show is often reserved for finales, but the Walking Dead time and time again has proven that nobody is safe from an exit, but no exits have been as glorious and heartfelt as this.
After sustaining a serious injury, Rick barely manages to get back towards the camp. All the while, he has hallucinations of important people in his life. He sees Shane, where it's revealed Judith is his daughter and not Rick's. He sees Hershel (a moment made even more bittersweet as Scott Wilson had just passed away), and finally, he sees Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green).
Throughout Season 9, all of the camps, including Oceanside and the Sanctuary, have been constructing a bridge in order to make navigation between them significantly easier. But it was shown that the bridge's construction may not be able sustain lots of weight. But when Rick leads a huge herd over it, the bridge holds.
One of the walkers knocks over a box of dynamite, to which Rick takes aim and pulls the trigger of his gun, uttering the final line "I found them", mirroring his first line "I'm looking for my family". A huge explosion ensues, and walkers tumble into the river below, while all the survivors cry at the loss of their beloved leader.
Though it is revealed that he survived and is rescued by Anne, Rick's departure from a series he helped build still stings to this day.
We can't wait for the movies.